THE SEASON for gift giving has come and with it many frustrated shoppers are wondering what to get for the men on their lists. If you are stumped when it comes to choosing the right gifts, you may find solace in the following ideas of great gifts to give, courtesy of the men themselves.
COLOGNE
Make sure that the fragrance is something he would like. If you are not sure, buy one that has a reputation for being favoured by men. Issey Miyake designs fragrances for men; so too does Givenchy. Some popular fragrances to look out for are Crave by Calvin Klein, Touch for Men by Burberry, Tobacco Flower by Bath and Body Works and Cool Water by Zino Davidoff. If you can afford more than one fragrance then do get them. He could wear them on different occasions.
TIES
You may buy him ties - but only if he wears them. Do not get ties for someone who typically wears T-shirts and jeans to work and does not go to church. Solids, stripes, silk or polyester ties are good gifts for men who like to dress up. Kenneth Cole, Nicole Miller and Geoffrey Beene are noted tie designers.
UNDERWEAR
Wouldn't you like to get your 'Hanes' on him? This gift should only be given to someone close to you, as it will have to match the taste of the individual. Husbands, boyfriends, sons and brothers are the ideal recipients of this gift. If he wears boxers do not get him briefs; similarly, if he wears briefs or boxer-briefs, do not get boxers. Good brands in underwear for men are Hanes and Calvin Klein.
A SHIRT FROM HIS
FAVOURITE DESIGNER.
For the man who does not like to iron, a crush resistant shirt will make a good gift. Many designers supply these at a special cost. Sweatshirts from his favourite brand name are also a good gift idea for the man who does not like dress shirts. Any other garment that you think he might like, or want, can be given.
BELTS AND MATCHING SHOES
If you have been giving him designer colognes each Christmas, he will more likely than not expect you to continue the trend. Instead, get him a nice leather belt that matches his shoes, or buy a pair of shoes to match the belt. Unless it is a personal request, do not get different colour belts and shoes. If the belt is brown, the shoes must also be brown.
JEWELLERY
Necklaces, bracelets and watches are all nice ideas for the man who likes jewellery. If it is silver, chunky is better. You may adjust the mass to suit the individual. Gold should be understated. Too much mass with gold is outdated and creates the impression of trying too hard to 'bling'; which is never the case with a man who knows style.
GADGETS
Games, gadgets, and cell phones make great gifts for men, no matter their age. From MP3 players to camera phones, PDAs to PlayStation 2s, men literally go ga-ga for gadgets. They will really appreciate the novelty of a new gadget, plus they will have fun figuring out how it works.
A GIFT VOUCHER
If you are unsure of what he wants or if you don't know much about his personal taste, then a gift voucher from a men's store is the safest bet. In fact, if you are too lazy to spend the time choosing the right gift, then give him a gift voucher. It is a foolproof way of getting him exactly what he wants - he chooses it himself.
